The Velammal International School,

Ponneri, Chennai - 601204

Chemistry Investigatory Project

Class XII

Topic : Detecting the presence of

pesticides and insecticides in fruits and
vegetables

Acknowledgement

I acknowledge my whole hearted gratitude to our beloved chemistry

teachers MR. S. JEROME PRAKASH PRAVIN, MS ELAKKIYA
and the
teachers for supporting and guiding us.

I thank our beloved Director Sri. M. V. M. SASI KUMAR for being

the
motivational force for the completion of this project.

I extent my thanks to our Principal and Vice Principal for their

benevolent Nature.

I also extend my thanks to my batch mates and friends for their

helpful observations and elucidation in this project.

Last but not least, I thank the school for providing me all the facilities
for the Completion of this project

THE VELAMMAL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Master/Miss __________________________of
grade XII has done the project work and submitted for chemistry
practical examination as per the requirement of AISSCE during the
academic year 2023 – 2024.

DATE :
PLACE : TEACHER
INCHARGE

PRINCIPAL INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL EXAMINER

Table Of Contents

1 – Abstract
 2 – Introduction
3 – Effects on Environment
4 – Pros and Cons
5 – Classification
i) Herbicides
ii) Insecticides
iii) Fungicides
iv) Rodenticides
6 – Aim
7 – Requirement
8 – Procedure
9 – Observation
10 – Conclusion
11– Bibliography

Abstract

The intensive development of agriculture means that more and

more toxic organic and inorganic compounds are entering the
environment. Due to the widespread use of toxic fertilisers,
pesticides and insecticides there is a distinct increase in
selective toxicity and contamination of the produce. They are
specifically more dangerous when it comes to fruits and
vegetables because humans are directly exposed to them.
Hence, it is very vital to monitor pesticide residues in fruit ad
vegetables using all analytical methods. We present results in
the context of MRLs ( Maximum Residue Levels) of target
pesticides in fruits and vegetables. By doing this, we will
know the extent to which each fruit or vegetable is
contaminated by a specific pesticide or insecticide.

Introduction

Pesticides are a numerous and diverse group of chemical compounds,

which are used to eliminate pests in agricultural fields and sometimes
even at home. They help us take control over the quantities and the
quality of crops and food and help us to limit the many human
diseases transmitted by insect or rodent vectors. However, despite
their many merits, pesticides are some of the most toxic,
environmentally unstable and mobile substances in the environment.
Their excessive use has a deleterious effect on humans and the
environment. Their presence in food is particularly dangerous. With
their environmental instability, ability to bio accumulate and toxicity,
pesticides may place the human body at greater risk of disease and
poisoning. Pesticides enter the environment in various forms (e.g.,
powders, moistened powders, powders for preparing aqueous
solutions, and concentrates for making up emulsions or sprays).

Pesticides are of enormous importance in increasing the yields and

quality of agricultural products. They are used to:
o Control the numbers of pests destroying whole plants or their
parts.
o Increase the production of animal and plant biomass.
o Combat micro-organisms causing farm produce to rot and to
decay.
o Combat algae, bacteria, fungi and weeds. Kill harmful
organisms in farm buildings, the home, hospitals, stores and
vehicles.
o The widespread use of pesticides not only contaminates water,
soil, and air, but also causes them to accumulate in crops (e.g.,
fruit and vegetables). Pesticides are transported mainly by rain
and wind from their points of application to neighbouring crops
and land, where their presence may be undesirable or harmful.
The quantities of pesticides in any particular region depend to a
large extent on the intensity of pesticide. Application and the
types of crops grown there. Combat animal pests damaging
crops (e.g., mites, aphids, insects, Larvae, and nematodes).

o Stimulate or inhibit plant-growth processes (e.g. remove excess

flowers, destroy foliage or dry out plants). Make possible the
 action of other substances, counteract growths on boats and
ships.

o Combat animal pests damaging crops (e.g., mites, aphids,

insects, Larvae, and nematodes).

Effects on Environment

Pesticides have many advantages, but they also do much harm to the
environment. From the perspective of both positive and negative
effects of pesticides, we should aim to achieve full positive selectivity
of their action. Nonetheless, the latest studies show that pesticides still
constitute a hazard to the environment and human health.

Each year, almost 140,000 tons of pesticides are sprayed onto crops in
the European Union (EU) alone. Fruit and vegetables are the crops
most likely to be contaminated by pesticides, particularly grapes,
potatoes and citrus fruits like oranges and lemons
According to data from the EUs Pesticide Action Network, as of
2008, around 350 different pesticides were detected in food produced
in the EU. More than 5% of products contained pesticides at levels
exceeding the maximum permitted level (MPL).

The effect of pesticides on the environment can be observed based on

the following parameters:
(1) Toxicity
(2) Purpose of application
(3) Chemical structure
(4) Environmental stability and
(5) The pathways by which they penetrate target organisms

On the other hand, pesticides can be structurally categorized as

organic and inorganic. The inorganic comprise arsenic insecticides,
fluoride insecticides, inorganic herbicides and inorganic fungicides,
while the organic comprise organochlorine, organophosphorus and
organonitrogen pesticides. Organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) (e.g.,
dichlorvos, methyl parathion, chloropyriphous, diazinon, demeton S-
methyl, phosalone, fonofos, metamidofos, monocrotophos,
chlorfenvinphos, fenitrothion, Malathion) are the principal group of
compounds used to protect plants.
They include all organic compounds containing phosphorus and are
used to combat pests in industrial plantations, orchards and vegetable
cultivation. OPPs usually have an ester structure, decomposing fairly
easily on the surfaces and interiors of plants, and in the soil. Their
toxicity depends on inhibiting the activity of enzymes controlling the
functions of the nervous system, mainly acetylcholinesterase.
 They permanently bind the groups which hydroxylate the enzyme
which in turn prevents acetylcholinesterase from decomposing and act
through contact or systematically. Blockage of cholinesterase activity
causes the amount of acetylcholine at the synapses to increase,
leading to a state of hyperarousal and paralysis of the muscles and the
main respiratory centre.
OCPs, including Aldrin, chlordane, linden and DDT have been
withdrawn from use in many countries because they are very toxic
towards humans. But because of their considerable stability in the
environment (as long as 30 years), they may still be present there and
can be transported by air or water over long distances.
While ONPs and OPPs are not very toxic, their improper application
can also lead to their Presence in farm produce (e.g., fruit and
vegetables). Even though they facilitate improvement in crop yields
and quality, they do pose a risk to consumers.

Pros and Cons of Pesticides

So far we have seen what pesticides are and how they affect the
environment. So, to sum it up in a general perspective, the following
table about the good and the bad side of pesticides can be drawn.

The Good Side The Bad Side

Classification
◆ Kill unwanted pests that carry ◆ Accumulate in food chain
disease (rats, mosquitoes, Tse-Tse
◆ Pests develop resistance - 500
flies)
species
Pesticides can be classified based on the pestssothey
far target. They are
◆ Increase food
classified supplies
as follows. ◆ Resistance creates pesticide
◆ More food means food is less treadmill
expensive
◆ Estimates are $5-10 in damage
◆ Effective and fast-acting done for $1 spent on pesticide
◆ Newer pesticides are safer, more ◆ Pesticide runoff

Pesticides

Fungicides Insecticides Rodenticides Herbicides

Fungicides:
Certain fungi cause disease and may infect both plants and
animals including human beings. Fungicides control plant diseases
that infect food- crops-wood used for building houses in often breated
with fungicides to prevent dry not

Insecticides:
Farmers use insecticides to protect their crops from insect
damage. In Urban areas public health officials use them to fight
mosquitoes and that insects carry germs. People use insecticides
indoor to control pests, ants and cockroaches.
Rodenticides:
Colloquially "rat poison" are typically non-specific pest control
chemicals made and sold for the purpose of killing rodents. Some
rodenticides are lethal after one exposure while others require more
than one. Rodents are disinclined to gorge on an unknown food
(perhaps reflecting an adaptation to their inability to vomit),
Preferring to sample, wait and observe whether it makes them or other
rats sick.

Herbicides:
Herbicides eliminates plant threats grow where they are not
wanted. Farmers use them to reduce weeds in such public areas as
parks and ponds. ponds. People use herbicides in their yards to get rid
of Crab grass, dandelions and other weeds.
These are the most prominent pesticides. Apart from this, there are
more specific pesticides that specifically target one species of pest
which is often not used as much as the forementioned ones.

Aim
To detect the presence of traces of residue of a pesticide or a
sub-derivative by looking for specific metals/chemicals present in the
target pesticide.

Requirements
1. Mortar
2. Pestle
3. Beakers
4. Funnel
5. Glass rod
6. Filter paper
7. China dish
8. Water bath
9. Tripod stand
10. Fusion-tubes
11. Knife
12. Test-tube
13. Samples of fruits & vegetables
14. Alcohol
15. Sodium metal
16. Ferric chloride solution
17. Ferrous sulphate crystals
18. Distilled water and
19. Dilute sulphuric acid.

Procedure

1. Heat a small piece of dry sodium in a fusion tubes, till it

melts. Then add Take different kinds of fruit and vegetables
and cut them into small piece separately.

2. Transfer the cut piece of various fruits and vegetables in

mortar separately and crush them.
3. Take different beaker of each kind of fruits and vegetables
and place the crushed fruit and vegetable in these beakers,
and add 10ml of alcohol to each or these. Stir well and filter
collect the filtrate in separate china dishes.

4. Evaporate the alcohol by heating china dishes one by one

over water bath and let the residue dry in an oven.

5. One of the above residue from china dish to the fusion tube
and heat till red hot. Drop the hot fusion tube in china dish
containing about 110ml of distilled water. Break the tube and
boil the contents of the china dish for about 5 minute to cool
and filter solution. Collect the filtrate.

6. To the filtrate add 1 ml of freshly prepared ferrous sulphate

solution and warm the contents. Then, add 2-3 drops of erric
chloride solution and dil. Hydrochloric solution. If a blue or
green precipitate is obtained, it indicates the presence of
nitrogen containing insecticide.

7. Repeat the test of nitrogen for residue obtained from other

fruits and vegetables and record the observation.

Observation
 Conclusion

From the above table we can conclude that the fruits and
vegetables we consume, especially tomatoes, potatoes, grapes
are contaminated with residues of nitrogen containing
insecticides and pesticides.

Bibliography

The following websites were used for reference.

- www.wikipedia.org
- www.chemcollective.org
- www.byjus.com
Thank You